To Be an Elder (in Mexico)

We are an hour north

of Cabo San Lucas and

I’m told the surf is slow

because the deep is close

to shore.

These waters have been

whispering this truth for

a thousand years:

if we live in the deep,

we will touch the world

slowly.

This is hard to learn.

It has taken me decades.

It is the deep and slow

that survive,

the deep and slow that

hold up the land on

which others come

and go.

It is why we are here,

together for a while:

to help each other slow

enough to hear the deep,

to feel the deep, to find

it in ourselves.

So we might live like

this surf, giving our all

in a gentleness that

receives all life as it

shapes the world.

A Question to Walk With: Describe someone you know who is deep and slow and how their presence affects you. What would you like to ask them?

This is from my book of poems in progress, The River of Already.

OCT 28-30: Harmony Hill Retreat Center, Surviving Storms: Finding the Strength to Meet Adversity, A Weekend Retreat, (web link) — IN PERSON

NOV 18-20: Shallowford Family Counseling Center, The One Life We’re Given: Finding the Wisdom That Waits in Your Heart, A Fri-Sat Retreat, Sunday Morning Service Talk, Heartwork: Being a Spirit in the World, (web link) — IN PERSON

NOV 30: California Institute of Integral Studies, FREE Live Podcast and Conversation between Mark and faculty member Cindy Shearer about Mark’s new book Surviving Storms, 5-6:30PM PST/8-9:30PM EST, (web link) – ONLINE

For more info on Mark’s upcoming events, visit: https://marknepo.com/teaching_schedule.php